Mining apparatus.



No. 638,285. v Patented Dec. 5, I899.

' P. SCHNETTER.

MINING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1899) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet. l.

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No. 638,285. P. SCHNETTEB. mums APPARATUS.

(k plicntion filed. Feb. 5, 18 9-) Pam Dec. 5, I899.

(No Model.)

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No. 638,285. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

F. SCHNETTEB. mmme APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1,899.)

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PA'IEN rrrea,

MINING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 638,285 dated December 5, 1899. Application filed February 15, 1899. Serial No. 705,568: (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL SOHNETTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining Apparatus; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus adapted for procuring minerals from frozen earth and to a means of heating and softening such earth by the economical and convenient application of heat to flat, inclined, open, or subterranean surfaces.

My improvement consists, essentially, of a heating apparatus for the combustion of any suitable fuel provided with peculiar openbottomed conduits for the conveyance and application of the heat and products of combustion, such conduits being composed of sections, hinged, interchangeable, and of various lengths, articulated and adapted to fit on the surface of uneven ground, means to secure said conduits in the desired position, dampers to control thedraft in these fiues or conduits and the heat-generator, and means to carry off the residual products of combustion from shafts or headings, as hereinafter more particularly described and explained in connection with the drawings herewith, forming a part of this specification, in Whioh- Figure I is a side elevation of my'improved mining apparatus erected on ground where the surface is uneven. Fig. II is a longitudinal section through the same apparatus, showing it extended in a straight line. Fig. III shows the'same apparatus adjusted for vertical or inclined faces, as in tunneling. Fig. IV illustrates the apparatus as it is applied in sinking shafts. Fig. V shows the apparatus as it is employed in horizontal working underground or drifting.

Similar letters and numerals of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout.

In processes of the kind to which my invention is directed the apparatus considered by itself fails to disclose the invention in such manner as will enable others to make and use the same, and as the methods of application are not fully indicated by the constructive features of the apparatus I furnish to this end in Figs. I, IV, and V examples of working under some of the most common conditions such as arise in practice.

It is ,well known that in mining frozen ground by means hitherto in use the. greater portion ofthe heat escapes without effect because of the imperfect manner of its applica ject of my invention is therefore to'apply the heat directly from the point of combustion and without other apparatus than a heatingchamber and accessories connected directly therewith. The convertibility of the same apparatus to the various conditions and positions that arise in mining without loss of effectby such adaptation and so that a single apparatus can be employed for surface working, sinking, and drifting, which may'all have to be carried out in one case or in one mine, requires that it be carefully contrived and constructed. 7 Such apparatus also requires to be separable and portable in nature, so as to permit its transportation over imperfect roads or trails andin places dilficult of access, and also requires to be of great strength in proportion toits weight and capable of being operated by men without mechanical skill, thus presenting a problem of much difiiculty. To these ends I construct and apply devices as shown in the drawings now to be referred to.-

The combustion-chamber 1 I construct in rectangular form, as shown in Figs. I, II, and III, having fire-grates 10 capable of being set in different positions-for horizontal working as in Figs. I and IV and for vertical or inclined surfaces as shown in Figs. III and V-as hereinafter more fully explained.

The hot gases while in the combustion chamber 1 and afterward so long as their temperature will perform effectual thawing .2 3 4 to achimney 5.

are kept in close contact with the earth being thawed and worked by direct exposure and also by being retarded or compressed in such degree as the force of the draft will permit, so as to promote or intensify the transfer of heat to the frozen earth.

In horizontal working the heat and products of combustion after their application at the bottom of the chamber 1 are conducted for some distance by means of open-bottom fines These fl nes are hinged together at the top, so as to follow and fit the contour of the surface, as shown in Fig. I, closed joints between the sections being maintained by the overlapping extensions 6, that slide under the lugs 7, as seen in Fig. II.

WVhen the apparatus is arranged for surface Working, as in Figs. I and II, now being especially referred to, fuel is introduced through the door 8 at the top and is burned on the grates 10, air being admitted through the door 11 to the ash-pit 12, as indicated by the arrow and in the usual manner. When oil or other concentrated fuel is used, the devices for combustion are of course arranged accordingly. Referring to Fig. II, the flame and hot gases pass over the bridge-wall13, are diverted downward and into the dues 2, 3, and 4 by a removable bottom plate 14, that is inserted from the front at 15 and rests on the bars 16, riveted to the sides of the combustion chamber 1. In this manner heat passes downward to the earth 17 and backward along the open-bottom conduits 2, 3, and lto the chimney 5, rising through a spherical nipple 18, provided with a damper 19, op-

erated by the curved bar 20. The spherical nipple 18 is to permit the chimney-flue 5 to be set at an angle when required, as seen in Fig. V. The damper 19 (shown wide openin Fig. II) is employed to retard the draft when the fire in the combustion-chamber 1 is fully ignitedand the flues are hot, causing the hot gases to' be disseminated and held in contact with the earth.

The doors 21 are to permit a temporary fire to be kindled at the base of the chimney 5 in starting the draft when the flues are cold and fire is being kindled on the grates 10. Two of these doors 21 are required, so as to give access to either side, one not being accessible when the apparatus is set against a wall or heading at one side.

The lateral width of the apparatus is preferably one-half or some multiple of the width of the surface being worked, so that when one side or part is thawed and softened the apparatus can be shifted laterally, as shown at A in Fig. V, so the thawing and working can go on continuously.

The flue-sections 2, 3, and 4 can be of any required number and are preferably made of different lengths, so that by interchanging and combining them an apparatus of definite length can be made up when a pit or shaft of certain dimensions is to be excavated-for example, as in Fig. IV.

To impart rigidity to the structure, so it can be slung from two points, as shown at B in Fig. IV, the sections 2 3 4 are provided with side latches 22, as shown in Fig. I. These latches have a series of notches that engage on studs behind the plates 23 and are held by the cams 24., so the whole structure can be raised by means of the link 25 on thecombustion-chamber and one of the eyes 26 on the sections 2, 3, and I in the manner shown at B in Fig. IV.

Referring next to Fig. 111 and to drifting or working on vertical and inclined faces, as shown at Aand G in Fig. V, the combustionchamber 1 is adjusted as follows: The plate 14 in. the bottom of the ash-pit is drawn out and removed, the ends of the grates 10 are shifted from the cross supporting-rod 27 to the rod 28 and are set in an inclined position, approximately as shown in Fig. III. The side bars 29, on which the grates 10 are supported, rest at the bottom on the lever'30, mounted on a stud 31, operated by a handlever 32 and a sector stop-bar 33, as seen in Fig. I, so the bars 29 and the grates supported thereon can be adjusted from the outside to various angles, as the nature of the fuel may require or for any other purpose. A dead-plate 34 is inserted to close the open space between the end of grate 10 and the front part 9 of the combustion-chamber, thereby preventing the outer cold air from entering the flue without absorbing heat in passing through the fire. Fuel supplied through the door 8 descends by gravity against the upturned extension 35 of the gratebars 10 or when the grates are raised by the lever 30 can be distributed in the usual manner. The removable back 38 is then taken off the combustion-chamber l, and the fines 2 3 4 or so many of them as are required are removed from the bottom of this chamber, as in Figs. I and II, and are set on top, as shown in Fig. III, thus forming acontinuous open-sided flue from the ground at the bottom 17 up to and above the chimney 5. The aperture at 39 then becomes an air-inlet, as indicated by the arrow in Fig III, and the apparatus is then in form for working on vertical or inclined faces in drifting, as seen in Fig. V, or against banks of any kind. WVhen the grates 10 are in the position shown in Fig. II, the grate-supporting bars 29 rest on a ledge 36, that can be withdrawn from the outside to let the grates descend to the position shown in Fig. III. The plates 37 are merely to fill in the distance between the sides of the combustion-chamber1,so the width there will correspond to that on the rod 27. In this manner it will be seen that the apparatus is quickly converted to answer all the requirements in mining frozen earth and that in changing from surface to pit working there are but two members-the back plate 38 and the ash-pit bottom 14-that are not essentialinboth cases.

When two or more sets of the apparatus are to be employed in one mine or are worked from one shaft, as shown in Fig. V, I provide IIO a junction-box"40, into which the chimneys 5 connect, a single flue 41 extending to the surface. In this case a fire is made in the junction-box 40 to start the draft through the combustion-chamber 1, a door 42 being provided at one or more sides for that purpose.

The means of handling and hoisting shown graphically in Figs. IV and V are those commonlyemployed in mining operations and do not require description.

In operating on vertical or inclined surfaces stones or earth loosened by thawing are liable to fall down through the flues 2 3 4 and choke the fire on he grates 10. To guard against this, I provide bars 43, that form a grating to catch any large pieces falling down the flue. These bars 43 rest on one of the crossrods 44, that connect and hold the combustion-chamber together, as shown in Fig. III.

As the combustion-chamber forms the heaviest member in the apparatus, I make this separable by means of the keyed cross-rods 44, which when removed permit the various members to be separated and packed in close form for transportation.

When required, the apparatus can be covered or lined in any part by any of the common heat-insulating materials to conserve heat or protect workmen from radiation.

In this manner it will be seen that my improved apparatus for miningin frozen ground is by its construction adapted for use under all the conditions that arise in such mining and is simple and portable in its construction; and,

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my invention and the manner of constructing and applying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, astationary combustion-chamber Wholly open at bottom to form a passage for flame along the surface of the ground on which said combustion-chamber rests, a vertical downtakepassage at the rear of said chamber communicating with said bottom passage, a grate forming the top of said bottom passage and extending from the front to the rear downtake-passage, and articulated extension-fines connected with said bottom passage, substantially as specified.

2. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, a stationary combustion-chamber without bottom closure, adapted to rest directly upon the frozen earth, a removable grate therein having upturned extension 35 at the rear, a removable bridge-wall at the rear of said grate, a downtake-fiue behind said bridgewall, extending to the ground on which the combustion-chamber rests, and a removable ash-pit bottom 14 beneath said grate, at such distance from the bottom of the chamber as to form a passage-Way for products of combustion along the surface of the ground, connected with said downtake-flue, substantially as specified.

3. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, a stationary combustion chamber without bottom closure, adapted to rest directly upon the frozen earth, a removable grate therein having an upturned extension at the rear, a removable bridge-wall at the rear of said grate, a downtake-flue behind said bridgewall, extending to the ground on which the combustion-chamber rests, a removable ashpit bottom beneath said grate, at such distance from the bottom of the chamber as to form a passage-way for products of combustion along the surface of the ground, connected with the said downtake-flue, jointed open-bottom ed fl ues connected with said openbottomed passage-way and said downtakeflue, resting upon the surface of the ground, and a chimney, all substantially as specified.

4. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, a stationary com bustion-chamber wholly open at bottom to form a passage for flame along the surface of the ground on which said combustion-chamber rests, a vertical downtakepassage at the rear of said chamber communicating with said bottom passage, a grate forming the top of said bottom passage and extending from the front to the rear downtake-p'assage, in combination with a series of open-bottomed flues articulated in sections, and means for holding said articulated sections in place when adjusted to the surface of the ground to which they are applied, substantially as specified.

5. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, astationarycombustion-chamber wholly open at bottom to form a passage for flame along the surface of the ground on which said combustion-chamber rests, a vertical downtakepassage at the rear of said chamber communicatin g with said bottom passage, a grate forming the top of said bottom passage, and extending from the front of said chamber to the rear downtake-passage, in combination with a series of articulated open-bottomed flues in sections, of varying length and interchangeable, adapted to rest upon and fit the surface of the frozen earth to which they are applied, and means for rigidly holding said articulated sections in place when adjusted, substantially as specified.

6. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, a stationary comb ustion-chamber without bot tom closure, adapted to rest directly upon the frozen earth, a removable grate therein, a removable bridgeqvall at the rear of said grate, and a downtake-flue behind said bridge-wall extending to the ground on which the combustion-chamber rests, in combination with a series of articulated open-bottomed fines in sections, adapted to rest upon and fit the surface of the frozen earth to which they are ap plied, means for rigidly holding said articulated sections in place when adjusted, and overlapping extensions 6 to cover and seal the joints between the several sections, sub stantially as specified.

7. In mining apparatus for frozen ground,

a combustion-chamber 1 provided with adjustable grates 10 having the upturned extensions 35, means to lower and pivotally secure the front ends of the grates and levers 30 to support and adjust the rear end of the same when the apparatus is employed for vertical or inclined surfaces, substantially as specified.

8. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, a combustion-chamber provided with an inlet firing-door 8, the adjustable grates 10, removable ash-pit bottom 14 and a removable back i 38 whereby the heat and products of combustion can be directed backward, and clown- Ward or upward, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as specified.

9. In mining apparatus for frozen ground a combustion-chamber of rectangular form provided with doors or apertures 8 11 and 39, the adjustable grates 10, removable back 38 and guard-bars 4:3 to protect the fire from falling earth or stones, arranged and operating substantially as specified.

10. In mining apparatus for frozen ground, a combustion-chamber of rectangular form, provided with grates 10, bridge-wall 13, a downtake-flue for surface Working, a series of open-bottomed sections 2 3 and 4t hinged and forming an articulated flue to fit over the surface of the ground, means to hold the sections rigidly When adjusted, and links or eyebolts on the combustion-chamber and on the sections composing the open-bottom flue, so the Whole apparatus can be slung and adj usted by liftin g-tackle, substantially as speci- 3 5 tied.

PAUL SOHNETTER. Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, BERT GRANGEY. 

